My new Kak is pulling out his tail feathers

Debs_birds · New Member Joined: Nov 13, 2007 Posts: 3

Hello everyone,

This is my first time posting. I bought a young kak (told he is just over 2 months old) last weekend and he is my first Kakariki.

I came home yesterday and to my dismay my poor bird has pulled out a whole section of his tail feathers. It looks like he has plucked the feathers off of the main strand - I found them on the floor.

Please can someone let me know what I should do? I have lovebirds, but have never had this problem. Although I have never kept a single bird before.

I thought maybe he is bored, so I changed things around in his cage, put in a different (better) bath and gave him some things to chew. I thought maybe this would help, but when I got up this morning he was doing it again.. Sad

I read in another post on here that Kaks don't tend to feather pluck due to boredom... do you think he needs a companion? I was planning on getting one for him, but not until Easter. And I thought it would be ok to rule out mites etc, because he has plucked the feathers out himself and only in one place?

There are a couple of additional things to mention - when I bought him from the pet shop he was in a cage next to a canary. Do you think there is any chance he has bonded with this other bird? And the other thing, I have noticed he sometimes turns around on a perch really close to the side of the cage (rather than at the other end of the perch) and his tail sticks out and bends on the bars of the cage as he turns.. do you think this is annoying him enough to pull out the feathers so it doesn't happen?

Please do let me know the best course of action; I care so much for my little kakariki and just want him to get better. Thank you in advance. I have to say, I love this website and am always reading it... so thank you!

I look forward to hearing from you all.
Thanks,
Debs

Tatters · Snr Member Joined: Mar 08, 2006 Posts: 62

debs, you don't say how big the cage is you are keeping your bird in these birds need a lot of space, if the cage is too small he may be suffering from stress. i keep mine in a cage but it is a big parrot cage they also get a lot of flying time when i am at home they are out most of the day. Try opening the cage sit with him put some food in your hand try to encourage him to come to you, be patient these are new surroundings for him.

Debs_birds · New Member Joined: Nov 13, 2007 Posts: 3

Thanks for replying to me... I am sure you're right about my kak.. he does probably just need more time to settle in. It is just a bit upsetting as he now has barely any tail feathers at all.

When I got your reply, I made sure I took the measurements of the cage he is in... It is 23" tall, almost 22" wide/long and 14.5" depth. Do you think this is not big enough? It does look quite roomy for him, but please do let me know. I intend on getting him a girlfriend in Easter and think I will have to get a bigger cage then probably. Although, I doubt it is the size of his cage, because I bought him in that cage and he was ok then. Although his tail was a touch on the scruffy side.

I'd love to get him out and let him fly around, but he wasn't hand-reared and I know putting him back in will stress him out too much.

I read somewhere that Kakarikis are particularly prone to heart attacks and that they have weak hearts... is this true or is it just some old wives tale?

Thanks for all your help.
Debs :)

Steptoe · Site Admin Joined: Oct 06, 2004 Posts: 4550

Kakariki are not like budgies or finches...Min size 30" x 20" x 50" with regular fly time.
I have yet to see or hear of a kakariki pluck due to stress
And plucking in parrots usually starts with body feathers not tail/wings
I would suggest maybe mites
Diet defiency or infection..check area for any inflamation
or most likely moulting plus the rest of the tail feathers arev very damaged being in a small cage and gives the appeatance they are not there.

Debs_birds · New Member Joined: Nov 13, 2007 Posts: 3

Thanks for your reply.

Wow the dimensions you have given are pretty big. I'll have to look into getting another cage it seems. Does anyone know of somewhere they'd recommend to buy cages like this? I don't want to get to a pet shop because they over charge like crazy. I'm in the UK though, so I suppose a lot of it won't be relevant.

Ok, I will check him tonight for the things you mention. Not sure how easy this will be as he is not tame, but I will have to just do it. I managed to get him to eat something out of my hand last night - all thanks to some of the advice you have given in previous posts, so thanks for that! :)

I don't think it is his diet as he eats quite well I think. I give him fresh veg every day.. he has liked everything I've given him so far! Not fussy like my Lovebirds thats for sure.

So I'll take a look at him tonight and if I can't see any inflammation, I'll treat him for mites and see what happens.

Thanks so much for the advice. I really appreciate it.
Debs

Steptoe · Site Admin Joined: Oct 06, 2004 Posts: 4550

Check out some of the large dept stores that import cheap products from China...Kakariki dont require a strong cage

The other altenatve is to make a cage out of 25x 25mm wood and 19x 0.5mm sq welded mesh...small triangle plates screwed on each cnr with keep it stiff and hold it together.